[Title] DECLARATION BY THE HEADS OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION
Today, we, the heads of State of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, have formally signed the Charter - the basic statutory document of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO or Organization). This event signifies the creation of the legal foundation for the new international association, whose establishment we proclaimed in June 2001 in Shanghai.
We believe that the SCO establishment is in accord with the existing situation in the region and the world, and also meets the fundamental interests of the peoples of the six countries.
I
The SCO is the successor to the Shanghai Five that evolved on the basis of two innovative for the Asian continent agreements on confidence building measures in the military field and on arms reduction.
The SCO has been established with the view of strengthening, among the member states, mutual trust, friendship and good neighborliness, enhancing all-round coordination in maintaining and strengthening peace, security and stability in the region, joint countering new challenges and threats, encouraging effective and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, promoting economic growth, and social and cultural development of the member states of the Organization.
The SCO is based on the principles of mutual respect of sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders and non-interference in internal affairs, non-use of force or threat of force, and equality of all member states.
II
An early launch of the SCO mechanisms ensuring the effective functioning of the Organization will be facilitated by the expeditious implementation of procedures for the ratification of the SCO Charter and the Agreement on the Regional Antiterrorist Structure (RATS) of the SCO.
In anticipation of the completion of all internal procedures necessary for the entry of the SCO Charter into force, the SCO national coordinators are instructed to embark on the preparation of the set of treaties and normative documents governing the operating procedures of the Organization's bodies and other aspects of its activities.
Effective steps will be taken in the SCO framework aimed at the implementation of the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, adoption of appropriate instruments of multilateral cooperation in the suppression of illicit trafficking in drugs and weapons, other types of transnational criminal activity and illegal migration.
Of urgent importance is establishing the mechanism of mutual information and search for common points of view on foreign policy issues of mutual interest, inter alia, in the framework of international organizations and for a, including the UN.
We note with satisfaction that in parallel with the resolution of organizational matters the process is underway of development and institutionalization of substantive interaction by member states in various fields. We highly appreciate the outcome of the first meeting of the heads of governments of the SCO countries of September 14, 2001 in Almaty and the foreign ministers meeting of January 7, 2002 in Beijing and of April 26, 2002 in Moscow, and support the development of contacts between the defense, foreign affairs and border agencies, heads of law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the framework of the Bishkek group, ministries of culture, emergency services and other government agencies. We have agreed to proceed with the onward expansion of areas of cooperation among the SCO member states.
We believe that the development of economic partnership is a particularly important task of the SCO activities. To this end, the negotiating process will be intensified on matters related to the creation of favorable conditions for trade and investment, elaboration of long-term Program of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation in accordance with the Memorandum between the Governments of the SCO member states of September 14, 2001. In the near future it is necessary to identify priority projects for practical cooperation in areas such as construction of transport communications and power supply facilities, water use, extraction and transportation of energy resources, as well as in other areas of mutual interest.
III
The SCO member states build their relations in the framework of an emerging multipolar system of international relations and believe that the world order in the 21st century should be based on the mechanisms of collective resolution of key issues, rule of law and consistent democratization of international relations.
The SCO member states will make efforts aimed at the prevention and peaceful resolution of international conflicts associated with inter-ethnic, inter-confessional, territorial, political and other collisions, in strict accordance with the UN Charter and the norms of international law.
The SCO member states intend to strengthen cooperation among themselves and with other countries in the search for answers to the challenges of the globalization process, neutralization of its adverse aspects and potential risks, preservation of the diversity of economic, social and cultural development. Globalization and national interests of states are not mutually exclusive, but rather mutually complementary structural elements of an emerging world order. The international community needs to elaborate a new type of security concept based on the principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, conducive to a radical weakening of the factors undermining security and to the eradication of sources of new threats.
The SCO member states are resolved to intensify cooperation in fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism, organized crime, illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as of weapons. They regard these phenomena as transnational threats that can be effectively countered only by collective efforts of the international community.
The SCO member states firmly reject all acts, methods and practices of terrorism. The fight against terrorism should be waged based on the norms and principles of international law and it should not to be identified with the struggle against any religion, individual countries or nationalities and must be devoid of bias and "double standards".
The SCO member states believe that a global system needs to be established to address new threats and challenges where the central coordinating role would belong to the UN and its Security Council and which would incorporate the appropriate multilateral cooperation mechanisms, including those for early warning and prevention of emerging threats and resolute and adequate response to their manifestations. For actions in this area it is extremely important to formulate, within the UN, principles and clearly defined, binding for all, international legal framework for anti-terrorist activity that would leave no space for dual interpretation of their content and would not serve as a cover for interference in the affairs of other states and infringement of their sovereignty.
These efforts have been significantly assisted by the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism of June 15, 2001 and the Agreement between the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of June 7, 2002. Thus, clearly defined legal framework has been created for the regional level practical cooperation in the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism.
The SCO member states feel certain that the important element of the global fight against terrorism should be depriving terrorism of its social support, inter alia, through the elimination of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and discrimination on racial, ethnic and religious grounds.
The SCO member states support each other's efforts to wipe out the manifestations of terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as the steps by the international community towards shutting channels of terrorism financing and they will intensify their own efforts to prevent in their territories the preparation and financing of acts of terrorism and deny refuge to terrorists .
The SCO member states reaffirm their intention to contribute in every way to strengthening the UN role in international affairs and further enhancing effectiveness and authority of the UN Security Council, bearing the main responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
The SCO member states believe that maintaining the international nonproliferation regime is one of the most important elements of ensuring peace and security both in Asia and globally. The early accession of all countries to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as the signing and ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty by the states which have not yet done so will contribute to strengthening strategic stability at various levels.
The SCO member states support the creation of nuclear-weapon-free zones, including the initiative of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the establishment of a NWFZ in Central Asia.
The SCO member states emphasize respect and support for a nuclear-free status of Mongolia.
The SCO member states welcome the conclusion of the new Russian-American treaty concerning further large cuts in strategic offensive arms and regard it as a positive contribution to the reduction of nuclear weapons.
The SCO member states call for an early commencement of multilateral negotiations on a comprehensive agreement on non-deployment of weapons in outer space and non-use of force or threat of force against outer space objects.
Undertaking to act in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the SCO member states reaffirm the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights, as well as their commitment to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. They regard peace and development as a fundamental guarantee of the promotion and protection of human rights and oppose the use of "double standards" in human rights and interference in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of their protection.
IV
The SCO member states have an inalienable right of independent choice of forms and methods of ensuring their own security, including through cooperation with other states. They will implement this policy in such a way as not to negatively impact regional stability and security.
The SCO member states believe that the security of Central Asia is inextricably linked to the prospects of the peace process in Afghanistan. In this connection, they will intensify their cooperation in promoting post-war political and economic reconstruction of that country.
The SCO member states welcome the creation of a new, stable Afghanistan, free of terror, war, drugs and poverty, and declare their respect for the cultures an traditions of all the peoples populating the country. They are ready to facilitate the process of forming broadly representative government in the interests of the entire Afghan people.
The SCO member states desire to see the Asia-Pacific region a zone of peace, stability and shared prosperity and are ready to cooperate constructively with all states and regional groups in establishing an APR cooperative regional security system operating under the United Nations Charter and international law that would be equally responsive to the interests and approaches of all participants. The consolidation of such a system will be facilitated by the strengthening of the already proven mechanisms of multilateral cooperation, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and others.
The SCO member states believe that the PRC Government is the sole legitimate government representing all of China, and that Taiwan is an integral part of the territory of China.
The SCO member states support the efforts by the two Korean states to promote and facilitate dialogue and cooperation in the spirit of the agreements of the inter-Korean summit of June 2000 and consider it useful to extend dialogue and constructive cooperation between the DPRK, USA and other Western countries so as ensure attaining lasting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
The SCO member states call upon India and Pakistan to resume the political dialogue in order to ease tensions and promote cooperation between the two countries.
The SCO member states express their grave concern over the protracted crisis in the Middle East that negatively impacts regional and international security and stability. The SCO member states call upon Israel and Palestine to immediately begin implementing relevant UN Security Council resolutions and respond positively to the peacemaking efforts of the international community and return to the search for peaceful solutions to the dispute.
The SCO member states are ready to work jointly with the international community to continue political and diplomatic efforts towards ensuring full implementation of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions on the Iraqi issue.
The SCO member states highly appreciate the initiative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to convene the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and believe that this forum, along with the existing Asian structures and mechanisms, will play an important role in building mutual trust and developing multilateral cooperation among the Asian countries.
V
We reaffirm that the SCO is neither a bloc, nor a closed alliance, is not directed against any individual countries or groups of states and is open for broad cooperation with other states and international associations in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the norms of international law, on the basis of regard for mutual interests and of the commonality of approaches to dealing with regional and global problems.
St. Petersburg, June 7, 2002